Railway-switch.



No. 704,4|4.' Patented July 8, I902.

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RAILWAY SWITCH.

(Application filed May 6, 1902.)

(No Modal.)

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" a fi' 2 I I 7 I I? 7 7 1 4 0 J f E I l l i I 'UNTTEE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM WHARTON, JR, OE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WVILLIAM VVHARTON, JR, dz COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF- PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A OORPGRATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RA! LWAY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 704,414, dated July 8, 1902. Application filed May 6, 1902. Serial No. 106,150. (No model.)

To @132 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WHARTON, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Railway-Switches,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to railway-switches; and it consists of an improved reinforcingbar for use in connection with a switoh rail [o for the purpose of stiffening and strengthening the same.

My invention is fully shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view showing the application of my improved reinforcing-bar to the rails of a railway-switch. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line a a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line b b, Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the reinforcing-bar,

showing the switch-connecting rods attached thereto.

As is well known, the necessary taper given to the pointed rails of railway-switches weakens said rails very greatly, and under the 2 5 modern conditions of trains of increased weights moving at increased speeds it is necessary to stiffen and to strengthen the pointed rails. For this purpose I have devised the reinforcing-bar 1 (clearly shown in the accompanying drawings,) which is constructed to fit against the web of the switch-rail 2, between the head and the base-flange thereof, and is secured thereto, preferably by bolts 8, passing through said reinforcing-bar and the web of the switch-rail. The reinforcingbar is formed with the two longitudinal ribs 4, whicharepreferably disposed substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings, and

these ribs, while strengthening the reinforcing-bar, serve to hold the heads of the bolts 3 and prevent them from turning, and they also provide means at any place whatever for the ready attachment of the connecting-rods 5, used to connect the two switch-rails together. For the attachment of these connect= ing-rods holes 6 are drilled through said ribs 4 for the reception of the securing-bolts 7.

It will be seen that the reinforcing-bar 1 can be made very readily and cheaply, as it can be rolled of any length required and afterward may be cut into such'shorter lengths as may be needed for use with various lengths of switch-rails.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. In a railway-switch, the combination of a switch-rail and a reinforcing-bar having two longitudinal strengthening-ribs.

2. In a railway-switch, the combination of a switch-rail and a reinforcing-bar attached thereto having two longitudinal strengthening-ribs.

3. In a railway-switch, the combination of a switch-rail,a reinforcing-bar attached thereto having two longitudinal strengtheningribs, and connecting-rods having their ends fitting between said ribs and attached thereto by suitable fastening means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM WHARTON, JR.

WVitnesses:

MURRAY 0. BOYER, J os. H. KLEIN. 

